Celebrate MLK, Jr. in Santa Barbara!
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From the Martin Luther King
Celebration Committee
Why We Remember the Story of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Santa Barbara, California - On Monday, January 16th, 2012,
the community will celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr.
national holiday Following a morning program of 17th century,
African-American dance and gospel song at 9:00 a.m. in De la
Guerra Plaza, celebrants will march, sing and carry banners up
State Street to the Arlington Theatre.
The 11 o'clock program "Retelling the Story - The Civil Rights Years"
will feature Wallace Shepherd, Sr., who knew Dr. King and protested
with him in the March on Washington in 1963. High school students
will ask questions about his experiences: "What was it like? Were
you afraid? Did you think things would change?"
Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired generations to dream. He said
"Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase."
In 1964, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Dr. King, the second
black American to win the award; Ralph Bunch won the first. The
Nobel Committee called Dr. King "the first in the western world to
have show that a struggle can be waged without violence."
The struggle was never only about race for Dr. King. Film clips of
King resonate today with our headlines. In his "I Have a Dream"
speech he said, "We refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.
We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great
vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash
the check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of
freedom and the security of justice."
Young winners of our Essay/Prose contest will read their insights
to the audience. A community choir and dancers will highlight the
program. A complementary lunch will be provided afterwards.
In spite of the rain last year about 1,200 people participated in
the free day of events.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Santa Barbara is comprised
of a diverse group of individuals who volunteer their time throughout
the year in planning the celebration. More information about the
event can be found on its website www.mlksb.com. The non-profit
organization appreciates all support; make checks payable to MLK, Jr.
Committee of Santa Barbara and mail to MLK, Jr. Committee of
Santa Barbara, PO Box 475, Santa Barbara, CA 93102.
Prior to the MLK, Jr. holiday weekend , the Broadway hit,
"Hairspray" will be performed at the Lobero Theatre,
on January 12th and 13th at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
In the 1960's, in Baltimore, an unpopular teenager's dream
to dance on a televised top ten teenage dance program becomes
true. A sudden celebrity overnight, she uses her star power to
officially integrate the show and broadcast the messages of
Dr. King. Produced in partnership with Big Sage Productions
and SB Dance Arts, tickets are available at the Lobero.com.
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